Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Ram.
Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all began the day I put velveeta cheese on my girlfriend’s face. Photography was my high school sweetheart, but after I graduated, I cheated on photography with other majors in school and we broke up. We went our separate paths, and I dated other majors in school like graphic design, illustration, cooking, and I almost became a firefighter, but no one loved me more than photography. Only by trying everything else, did I realize that photography was my main squeeze and it allowed me to keep my sanity, self-express and stand out.
So after eight years, I entered the fantastic photography program at Santa Monica College and took a Photoshop class. We were instructed to create a series of photos, and so I chose junk food as my theme. Heavily inspired by surreal and abstracts artists, such as Salvador Dali, I created three ‘junk food monsters.’
This idea popped in my head and my girlfriend, Taylor Gage (who is also an abstract artist herself), was oddly okay with me covering her in slices of velveeta cheese. I made myself a cheeto monster and a Dorito mask in the next few days. I got an A in that class.
People see me as this awesome artist who can photograph normal things like weddings and portraits, but also as this weird, eccentric, funny guy. I learned to celebrate my individuality and weirdness.
I won a juried art show at my school for the Cheeto and Velveeta cheese head and my photography career is succeeding more everyday. Stay weird!
If you like to laugh, go check out my work at www.chrisram.co.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I lost myself.
Most millennials have trouble paying their rent in LA. Some suffer from depression, anxiety, or lack of direction. Others struggle taking a college class before 9am, but I suffered from all those things. 🙂
High school finished, and I had a bout of identity crisis. Some people followed the American dream, went to college, married, found a job and got something called health benefits. Some succeeded immediately, but I must have taken the wrong exit. I threw ping pong balls at red cups instead of sleeping for my 8am class. I worked a 9 to 5 to pay bills and dropped out of school. I threw darts in the dark but came up aimless. My only friends were the artists and bands on my iPod I related to through melancholic lyrics and sounds, such as those found in most Radiohead songs.
After every night, however, the sun rises. I found myself through photography and that’s all I focus on now – pun intended. It allows to me to be myself and as weird as I want to be.
I don’t know if the ride is over with, malfunctioned or even if the drop is coming, but this is one weird rollercoaster.
Chris Ram Photo – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a freelance photographer, who specializes in Photoshop, retouching and advertising. My work is light-hearted, entertaining and funny, however, I do have the skills necessary to do serious work, such as weddings, headshots, product and band photography. My ideal client would be a brand interested in collaborating, that is familiar with my style and gives me the creative freedom to capture their brand identity/message.
I’m a current photo student at Santa Monica College, so I’m still building a foundation, but I have taught myself the skills necessary to run a freelance business. When I first started, I volunteered myself and also assisted professional photographers various times. I was eager to get in the studio, discover their workflow and learn through trial-and-error. Some of my work is featured in art shows and I sell prints/stickers at art-walks, such as the Mar Vista Artwalk. My Cheeto and Velveeta head always catches attention. People don’t believe me when they discover I covered a person in Velveeta cheese. My art is weird, abstract and I enjoy entertaining people.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I recently applied for a paid internship on Indeed, interviewed for almost 2 hours and thought I did a great job. During the interview, I brought my portfolio and two of the interviewers purchased prints from me on the spot! I did not receive a phone call, email or text and immediately became discouraged, however, a few weeks later, I received a phone call and got the job!
You are now looking at the new Social Media and Content Creator for Ehow and Cuteness. The company loved how creative my work is, and the fact that someone hired me for my individuality made tear up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chrisram.co
- Phone: (310) 413 -0444
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: chris.ram
- Facebook: facebook.com/chrisramphoto
- Twitter: chrisramirez
- Other: chrisram.co/Store
Image Credit:
All images are copyrighted by Chris Ram Photo. Each individual is a close friend of the photographer. Special thanks to Taylor Gage, Jackie Valenzuela, Kosta Vasiliou, and Jules Ramirez for modeling. Any friends not listed, special thanks to you all too.
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